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Historical thriller

Waves (2024): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Waves (2024) movie poster

Waves is a 2024 historical thriller directed by Jiří Mádl, starring Stanislav Majer as Milan Weiner, Tatiana Pauhofová and Vojtěch Kotek. It runs 2 hours 11 minutes and earned $8.9 million worldwide on a $3.5 million budget. IMDb users rate it 7.7/10.

IMDb rating
7.7/10
worldwide gross
$8.9M
Echo Score
82
budget
$3.5M
Waves (2024) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 11m (131 min)
Director
Jiří Mádl
Genres
History , Thriller , Drama
Original language
Czech
Budget
$3.5M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Waves About?

The premise of Waves without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

In the late 1960s, amidst a backdrop of rock and roll and student protests, a young man joins a respected public radio newsroom. He quickly becomes entangled in a tense and perilous conflict between journalists and a powerful secret service organization. The situation escalates, threatening to expose a story with the potential to change history forever.

Waves Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • year 1967
  • teenage boy
  • bare chested boy
  • bare chested male
  • 20th century
  • one word title
  • 1960s
  • central europe
  • year 1968
  • older woman younger man relationship
  • radio personality
  • brother brother relationship
+38 more
  • radio
  • man wears glasses
  • journalist
  • based on real person
  • woman wears glasses
  • radio station
  • prague czech republic
  • central european history
  • prague czechia
  • european history
  • audio tape
  • new job
  • written by director
  • czech history
  • prague
  • resistance
  • revolt
  • czech resistance
  • orphan
  • workplace romance
  • male star appears shirtless
  • teenager
  • female journalist
  • domineering brother
  • broadcasting industry
  • truth
  • fake letter
  • swimming pool
  • telephone call
  • cemetery
  • letter
  • grave
  • new year's eve
  • orphan boy
  • slow motion scene
  • radio broadcast
  • archive footage
  • reference to komsomolskaya pravda
Cast & crew

Waves Cast & Characters

Stanislav Majer leads the cast as Milan Weiner, with Tatiana Pauhofová as Věra Šťovíčková and Vojtěch Kotek as Jiří Dienstbier. Directed by Jiří Mádl; 74 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Waves

· 70 more
Show all 74 cast members
Ratings

Waves Reviews & Ratings

IMDb users rate Waves 7.7/10. Our Echo Score gives it 82/100, strongest in character & emotion (90) and weakest in story & flow (70).

82 /100

Waves Echo Score Breakdown

Waves delivers a compelling blend of historical drama and political thriller, anchored by strong direction and striking visual composition. Critics and viewers highlight its precise screenplay, immersive 1960s atmosphere, and resonant moral themes, while noting occasional pacing lulls and selective historical coverage. The film’s emotional core, high production values, and relevance to contemporary issues sustain its impact, resulting in a solid overall rating.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 85

    In terms of art and craft, the film benefits from meticulous direction and an evocative visual style that recreates the 1960s setting. Reviewers commend the cinematography as excellent and the editing as tight, contributing to a polished aesthetic. Minor criticisms target occasional uneven scene transitions, but the overall craftsmanship remains high, leaving a strong positive impression.

  • Character & Emotion 90

    When it comes to character and emotion, performances are described as superb and nuanced, bringing depth to the protagonists. Actors convey the tension of personal and political stakes, creating an intimate portrayal of two brothers. The chemistry among the cast and the emotional resonance of their journeys are consistently praised, resulting in a highly effective character layer.

  • Story & Flow 70

    Regarding story and flow, the narrative is praised for its structural ambition and engaging premise, yet reviewers note uneven pacing and selective historical detail. The opening is seen as slow by several viewers, and some plot connections feel odd, leading to a mixed perception of coherence. Nevertheless, the central arc maintains interest, positioning the story in the moderate range.

  • Sensory Experience 88

    In the sensory experience, the soundtrack is highlighted as riveting and well‑integrated, while the production design convincingly evokes the era. Visual composition receives commendation for its striking cinematography, and sound design supports the tension of radio resistance. No significant drawbacks are mentioned, resulting in a high sensory score.

  • Rewatch Factor 78

    For rewatch factor, the film’s educational value and relevance to current geopolitical concerns encourage repeat viewings. Viewers appreciate its ability to provoke discussion and deepen historical understanding, though some describe it as a one‑time watch due to pacing issues. Overall, the lasting appeal and replay potential remain solid, placing the aspect in the upper‑mid range.

Plot

Waves Plot Summary

What happens in Waves from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

The story centers on the Editorial Office of International Life of the Czechoslovak Radio, a place where journalism, courage, and danger intertwine under the steady leadership of Stanislav Majer. The office buzzes with a team of reporters and editors, among them the sharp and principled Tatiana Pauhofová as Věra Šťovíčková-Heroldová, the determined Vojtěch Kotek portraying Jiří Dienstbier, the seasoned Martin Hofmann as Luboš Dobrovský, and the keen mind of Petr Lněnička in the role of Jan Petránek. The atmosphere of the newsroom is electric and fragile at once, a place where deadlines bite as hard as the truth demands, and where every story carries a risk that goes beyond the page.

Full summary

The whole story of Waves, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Waves Box Office & Budget

Waves grossed $8.9 million worldwide on a $3.5 million budget, 2.6 times what it cost.

2024 box office

Worldwide gross

$8.9M

2.6× its budget

International
$8.9M
Budget
$3.5M
Videos

Waves Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 teaser.

Official Trailer
  • Teaser Vlny | Teaser
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Waves?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who portrays Věra Šťovíčková-Heroldová in the film?

Seen Waves?

FAQ

Waves FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of Waves, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Waves?

Waves runs 2 hours 11 minutes (131 minutes).

When was Waves released?

Waves was released on July 1, 2024.

Who directed Waves?

Waves was directed by Jiří Mádl.

More films by Jiří Mádl

Who is in the cast of Waves?

Waves stars Stanislav Majer as Milan Weiner, Tatiana Pauhofová as Věra Šťovíčková and Vojtěch Kotek as Jiří Dienstbier, among 74 credited actors.

How much did Waves make at the box office?

Waves grossed $8.9 million worldwide on a budget of $3.5 million.

How is Waves rated?

Waves has 7.7/10 on IMDb and 74% on TMDB.

Does Waves have a post-credit scene?

No. Waves has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is Waves in?

The original language of Waves is Czech.

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